Op Amps for Everyone - The Repeater Builder's Technical ...

Transducer to ADC Analog Interface
(see Figure 18–8), so its output voltage swing is renamed V IN , and the ADC is connected
to the output of the amplifier, so its input voltage range is renamed V OUT . Now, two data
points are constructed as V IN1 = 0.2 V @ V OUT1 = 1.5 V and V IN2 = 0.5 V @ V OUT2 = 4.5 V.
The data points are substituted into the equation Y = mX + b; m is named the slope and
b is named the X axis intercept or just the intercept for short. Don’t worry about the sign
of m or b because it is determined by the math, and it is substituted into the equation that
determines the transfer equation. The simultaneous equations are given below.
Transducer Amplifier ADC
Digital
Output
Figure 18–8. Data Acquisition System
1.5 0.2m b
4.5 0.5m b
(18–9)
(18–10)
From these equations we find that b = –0.5 and m = 10. The slope and intercept values
are substituted into Equation 18–8 to get Equation 8–11.
Y 10X 0.5
(18–11)
The mathematical terminology in Equation 18–11 is replaced by electronics terminology
in Equation 18–12, and this is the transfer function required for the amplifier. The next step
is to select the op amp, and this isn’t a hard task because there are many candidates that
could do the job with these undemanding specifications, so let us not dwell on the selection
process. Assume that the selected op amp operates on a 5-V power supply, can drive
the ADC input resistance of 20 kΩ with no voltage divider action, and that the op amp input
impedance is so big that it doesn’t load the transducer.
V OUT
10V IN
0.5
(18–12)
The circuit that produces the desired transfer function is given in Figure 18–9.
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